Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-07-25
War and Arbitration.

II would seem 81 first glance s.
though the international Arbitration
Association. which held its annual
/ meeting IN London during the past
week. assembled under somewhat
diScouraging circumstances. The
Bulgarian war Is going on again On
the papersl and France and Germany
are still growing sulIenlv At each
other. and are apparently Is far from
reconcilement s. ever. RuSSia is IN
1 no degree disposed % abandon her
designs upon the Indian frontier.
| All Europe, TOO. i filed with mill
tary camps, and large proportion
OF its people are In training for war.
Yet q deeper inquiry into the affairs
OF nations. and the history OF the
past few decades. would show that
the Arbitration Association has res
son for great encouragement. after
au. II II had brought about nothing
more than the Geneva Arbitration. il
would have justified its existence !;
but It has done more than that Ii
has indirectly caused the amicable
settlement OF st least one dispute be-
tween Russia and Austria. which but
for its influence would undoubtedly
have ended in bloody conflict and
il has influenced 10 marked extent
the policy Of Germany in its treat
ment Of surrounding nations More
than aIl else. it has educated public
opinion on the question Of arbitra-
ton. and made Z beginning for
sOunder and more rational treatment
OF international differences
No one familiar with the present
drift OF affairs in Europe and other
parts Of the world would venture 10
predict that the era Of universal
peace i near st hand. II seems quite
inevitable that few great wars must
occur before the w0rld-atmosphere
can be cleared OF its sui phurous vs.
pOrs and all nations bask together in
the sunshine OF peace and goodwill
[ Mess al signs are TO fail, unless all
recent history Is under false con-
structiOn. Russia Is certain 20 be be-
fore many years principal IN two or
more decisive struggles on the CONT
nent OF Europe and Asia. Germany
and France have an old feud 10 settle
that i likely 70 lose none OF its bit
terness in the lapse Of years \
cas1ts 5eIIi may be developed in Eu-
Iopean Turkey or in Egypt any day.
and the Balkan States are so many
smouIdering embers ready TO light up
into war st the first breath OF intrigue
or hot ambition
But no one can say that il i not
possible that all these war tendencies
may be turned TO 8 peaceful issue,
the thorns plucked out and the irri-
tations soOthed and healed by the
balm OF brotherly love and charity.
This st least Is the only position
which such organizations IS the In
ternatiOnaI Arbitration Association
can assume. and 10 this end all friends
OF peace must work and strive
The advocates Of arbitration have
won many victories in the past. Gov
ernments and nations are more ready
10 listen to the appeals Of mercy and
humanity than they were twenty-five
and nifty years ago The sense OF
mankind on the subject OF war l. tax
ing 3 soberer and caImer aspect. Men
are counting the cost more than they
used TO. and making less account OF
the gloTies OF war and the pomp and
majesty Of marching armies Men
are beginning TO think more deeply
on the practical or material side Of
the problem, the vast treasure ex-
pended. all the burdens which mill
tary rule imposes on the state. the
bIoOdshed- the devastation. the mis-
cries that 90 with and follow war.
Men are thinking more deeply Of
these things and are asking them
selves if the time may never come
when the world will outgrow the cost
IL and useless. foolish and barbarous,
horrid and brutal thing called War
WASHINGTON LETTER.